With the crowd still trying to catch their collective breath after a sensational and controversial Hull derby, the Saints and the Wolves took to the field for the last game of what had been a stunning sunny Saturday in Manchester.

Saints were riding high after a great victory over the Rhinos last Monday while Warrington, still smarting from a loss to Hull FC, were buoyed by the return to action of Adrian Morley after a long injury lay-off. The stage was set for a classic.


It took exactly sixty seconds for Riley to open the scoring with a try in the corner off an Atkins pass. Ratchford was up against the touchline but slotted over the conversion with confidence, a dream start for the Primrose and Blue.

Ratchford was provider for the second Wolves try when a cross field kick saw Atkins rise above the Saints defence and fall over the line making the providers conversion a formality for 12-0. Saints were stunned, a poor second best, they had barely touched the ball.

Saints finally got themselves into the game with the try of the day as the ball passed through half a dozen pairs of hands allowing Gardner to round the winger and score in the corner. Makinson kicked the extras and after eighteen minutes the score was 12-6.

On twenty-four the Saints were back within two when Jordan Turner danced through the Warrington defence to ground without Warrington getting a hand on him. Makinson hit the post with the conversion attempt but Saints were replaying their fight-back from last Monday evening.

It took the Wolves three minutes to buck-up their ideas. After a brilliant Wolves break, Riley found himself in space down the left to go over in the corner under the tackle. Ratchford added the extras and regained his side some breathing space.

Three minutes from the break and Briers dipped the shoulder to score by the posts. But the Wolves weren’t finished as Waterhouse finished a fifty metre play when he went over off a Myler pass. Ratchford kicked both extra twos and gave the Wolves a half time 30-10 lead.

Turners second try, after fielding a Wilkin high kick, came twelve minutes into the second half and Makinson added the extra two to reduce the deficit to fourteen points.

Hohaia narrowed the gap even further after a brilliant Gardner break saw him go fifty metres down the wing and pass through the hands of Jones. Makinson goaled for 30-22. With twenty minutes left there was still a game to be won.

There was just under ten minutes left when Trent Waterhouse sealed the victory for the Wolves off a short Myler pass. Ratchford was again successful with the boot for six from six and put his team 36-22 ahead.

With the clock entering the last five minutes Grix went over in the right corner after Turner came out of the line and left a large gap. Ratchford was again immaculate with the boot and the Wolves had a comprehensive win.

The icing on Warrington’s cake was a last minute try for Adrian Morley on his return from injury. Ratchford made it eight from eight and a big 48-22 win.

Warrington controlled the match from the outset and the Saints were always second best but the game was a great advert for the game and a fitting finale to the first day of Manchester Magic.

Saints: Hohaia, Gardner, Turner, Percival, Makinson, Ashe, Wilkin, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Howarth, Puletua, Manu, Soliola, and Jones
Replacements: Laffranchi, Clough, Walmsley, and Thompson
T: Gardner, Turner (2), Hohaia
G: Makinson 3/4

Wolves: Ratchford, Monaghan J., Grix, Atkins, Riley, Briers, Myler, Hill, Higham, Wood, Waterhouse, Westwood and Cooper
Replacements: Morley, Monaghan M., Carvell, and Currie
T: Riley (2), Atkins, Briers, Waterhouse (2), Grix, Morley
G: Ratchford 8/8

Referee: Phil Bentham
Video Referee: Ian Smith

RLFANS.COM Man of the Match: Stefan Ratchford